Search Results for: lion
- Thailand News
Thailand restricts 10,000-baht handout use for phones, electronics
Recipients of the government’s 10,000-baht handout will be restricted from using the digital cash to purchase mobile phones, electrical appliances, or electronic devices. This decision was announced by officials yesterday. A government sub-committee, led by Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, placed these items on a negative list to ensure the funds are spent at small shops rather than large department…
- Thailand News
Early retirement scheme slashes Thai Defence senior ranks
The Cabinet approved an early retirement scheme for senior Defence Ministry officials, effective this October. According to insider sources, the initiative is set to revolutionise the armed forces by offering retirement packages to over 700 top brass. The ambitious three-year campaign aims to retire 732 high-ranking officials, approximately 244 each year, slashing the defence budget by an impressive 4.47 billion…
- Thailand News
GAC AION charges ahead in Thailand with new EV hub in Rayong
China’s 4th-largest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, GAC AION New Energy Automobile, is gearing up to revolutionise Thailand’s automotive landscape with the inauguration of a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Rayong’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) on July 17. Industry Minister Pimphattra Wichaikul announced that the cutting-edge plant, costing a staggering 2.3 billion baht, is poised to kick off operations by November. Boasting…
- Thailand News
Oil smuggling fugitive escapes with politician’s help
Crime Suppression Division (CSD) officers are seeking warrants for the arrests of six individuals allegedly involved in the brazen hijacking of three oil smuggling vessels from the Marine Police Division’s pier in Sattahip on June 11. Police Colonel Anek Taosuparb, CSD Deputy Commander, revealed to the media today, July 10, that two of the six suspects, including the ringleader known…
- Press Room
Kumar’s ‘Beats, Rhymes & Punchlines’ hits Bangkok in September 2024
Beats, Rhymes & Punchlines is Kumar’s latest stand-up comedy special after the global success of Kumarsutra: Greatest Hits. The show will be presented on September 28th at Amari Bangkok Hotel at 8.30pm following a `sold out’ tour in Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and Sydney in Australia and Auckland, New Zealand earlier this May 2024. The new show headlines a laughter-filled…
- Thailand News
Police arrest Russian gang leader for sale of counterfeit passports
Thai immigration officials apprehended the leader of a Russian gang involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit passports. The operation, which caused damages exceeding 30 million baht, had its manufacturing hub in the Dominican Republic before smuggling the fake documents into Thailand. Today, July 10, the Immigration Bureau held a press conference to announce the arrest of 44 year…
- Thailand News
New Thai Airways deal supercharges UK-Asia courier service
Heathrow Airport’s only on-site express courier handler, CFL, inked a three-year deal with Thai Airways (THAI), boosting courier capacity between the UK and the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. CFL Chief Executive Matthew Ware expressed his excitement. “We are delighted to formalise this important partnership with THAI. Exporting is vital for the UK economy, and this deal will give UK businesses…
- Thailand News
Ang Thong park still positive amid worst coral bleaching in decades
Ang Thong National Marine Park is experiencing its most severe coral bleaching event in a decade, with conditions expected to improve by August. The park anticipates earning over 40 million baht in revenue by the end of the fiscal year. Ang Thong National Marine Park is grappling with a significant coral bleaching crisis, its most severe case in the last…
- Thailand News
PM Srettha to meet Malaysian PM for peace talks
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced a high-stakes meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in a southern border province on August 3, though the exact location remains undecided. The Thai premier hinted that Yala, Pattani, or Narathiwat could be the chosen venue. “My team is making arrangements.” While the specifics of the agenda are under wraps, the Bangkok-born PM…
- China News
Baidu’s robotaxis face backlash from Wuhan taxi drivers
Baidu’s fleet of over 500 autonomous taxis (robotaxis) in Wuhan is rapidly attracting customers, despite backlash from locals and taxi drivers. The Apollo Go service, which launched in August 2022, has become so popular in this city of 13.7 million that local taxi drivers are now urging the municipal transport authority to limit its use. In late June, Wuhan Jianshe…
- Thailand News
Cyber police arrest call centre gang in Sa Kaeo for 700k fraud
Cyber police arrested members of a call centre gang impersonating officials from the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) and defrauding a high-ranking female official from the Ministry of Justice of over 700,000 baht. Cyber police, directed by Vorawat Watnakornbancha, led a raid to arrest 31 year old Angkana and 34 year old Chanchai, based on a warrant from…
- Thailand News
AirAsia launches cinematic inflight experience in India
AirAsia is bringing a cinematic inflight experience to selected cinemas across India. This partnership with Qube Cinemas aims to showcase the airline’s diverse and unique destinations as part of the movie-going experience. Over the next six months, more than 130 cinemas across 12 cities will feature this immersive experience, offering movie-goers the chance to win flights to any destination in…
- Thailand News
Thai king’s sustainable model boosts Thai agriculture
King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua’s Khok Nong Na Model is revitalising Thai agriculture with its sustainable approach designed for the people’s happiness. The model advises farmers to divide their land into equal parts for plant cultivation, pond construction, and housing. To commemorate the king’s 71st birthday last year, reporters interviewed Wiwat Salyakamthorn, former agriculture and cooperatives minister, who now chairs…
- Thailand News
Court upholds six-year prison sentence for former Pheu Thai MP
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office yesterday upheld the guilty verdict against former Pheu Thai MP, Anurak Tungpanithanon. The panel of judges confirmed there was no justification to overturn the original bribery ruling. Anurak, formerly representing Mukdahan, faces six years in prison for soliciting a 5-million-baht bribe from then-Chief of the Groundwater Resources Department (GRD) Sakda…
- Thailand News
Thailand delays legal advice on digital wallet funding
The Thailand government has not yet sought legal advice from the Council of State regarding the use of funds from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) to partially finance the digital wallet scheme, confirmed Pakorn Nilprapunt, Secretary-General of the Council. Pakorn clarified that the government does not need to consult the council if it plans to use money…
- Thailand video news
Thailand Video News | Thailand to end duty-free on arrival shopping at airports, cannabis advocates protest proposed ban in Thailand
In Thailand Video News today, Alex talks about Thailand’s decision to end duty-free shopping on arrival at airports to boost the economy. Advocates are protesting at the Prime Minister’s office against the proposed relisting of Cannabis as a narcotic drug and Myanmar rebels are increasing their meth production and distribution into Thailand to fund their operations. A woman in Pattaya…
- Business News
CIMB Thai Bank predicts BoT policy rate cut to 1.5% by 2025
CIMB Thai Bank (CIMBT) predicts a significant reduction in the Bank of Thailand’s policy rate by one percentage point between December and next year, aligning with anticipated cuts in the US policy rate. Amonthep Chawla, the bank’s chief economist, stated that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is likely to reduce the policy rate by 0.25 percentage points in December, bringing…
- Thailand News
Mobile users must verify SIM cards by tomorrow or face restrictions
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has mandated that individuals possessing between six and 100 SIM cards must verify their identities at mobile operators’ service centres by tomorrow, July 11, or face restrictions on outgoing calls and text messages. Out of a total of 3,981,251 SIM cards, 1,635,407 had their identities verified as of yesterday, leaving over 2.3 million…
- Thailand News
New bus routes from Phuket Airport to major tourist hotspots
A new agreement between Airports of Thailand (AoT) and state-run bus operator The Transport Co, better known by its Thai initials BorKorSor (บขส), will introduce new bus services from Phuket International Airport before the year ends. BorKorSor Acting President, Atthawit Rakjamroon, announced yesterday, July 9, that this initiative will see buses operating directly from three key airports managed by AoT:…
- Business News
E-Foreign Business service said to simplify foreign investments
The Department of Business Development (DBD) is set to launch a new online service this month, the e-Foreign Business is aimed at streamlining the process for foreign investors to apply for business permissions in Thailand. Director-General of the DBD, Auramon Supthaweethum highlighted that the new system is designed to shorten the processing time for business registrations and reduce the volume…
- Thailand News
Pol-ishing Thais: Thailand, Poland to boost medical technology ties
Thailand and Poland, despite their close trade ties, are urged to enhance their business cooperation, particularly in the medical technology sector, according to Polish Ambassador Artur Dmochowski. During a seminar in Bangkok yesterday, July 9, Dmochowski highlighted Poland‘s desire to strengthen economic, commercial, and technological exchanges with Thailand. The event aimed to showcase advancements in Polish medical technology. The Polish…
- Thailand News
Officer injured in Chiang Mai drug bust as suspect flees
An early morning drug bust operation in Mae Taeng district, Chiang Mai led to an exchange of gunfire, leaving one officer injured. Police managed to seize a significant amount of heroin and methamphetamine after a suspect abandoned a motorcycle and fled. At 4.30am today, July 9, the rapid response unit of the Border Patrol Police Company 335 initiated a checkpoint…
- Thailand News
Submerged in controversy: Sutin to meet PM over submarine deal
Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang announced today that he will meet Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin next week to discuss the controversial submarine procurement project. Sutin revealed that if the prime minister approves, the proposal will be swiftly submitted to the Cabinet for final approval. “Once China answers this key question, I will compile all the information for the prime minister to…
- Thailand News
Fielding opinions: OAE seeks public input on agri-operator rules
The Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), led by Secretary Chantanont Wannakejon, is currently gathering feedback from stakeholders and the general public on the draft regulation regarding the registration of agricultural operators, including machinery service providers, scheduled for implementation later this year. Chantanont highlighted the importance of this initiative, which aims to enhance the efficiency of agricultural production through a comprehensive…
- Thailand News
Survey reveals Chinese tourists’ spending habits in Thailand
The majority of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand in the second quarter of this year were lured by the country’s delectable cuisine and exotic fruits, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand. The Council’s report, published last Thursday, July 4, surveyed 205 Chinese nationals. The participants included 44% from Mainland China, 24% from Hong Kong, 18% from Taiwan, and 14% from…
- Business News
Honda to cease productions in Ayutthaya by 2025, EV competition
Honda Motor will cease vehicle production at its Ayutthaya factory by 2025, redirecting its efforts to consolidate operations at the Prachin Buri plant, the company announced today, July 9. This strategic shift underscores the increasing challenges Japan’s second-largest automaker faces in Southeast Asia, as Chinese brands aggressively vie for market share in Thailand amidst rising consumer interest in electric vehicles…
- Thailand News
Pheu Thai tries to regain public confidence after unfulfilled promises
Pheu Thai faces significant challenges as it struggles to regain public confidence amid unfulfilled economic promises. Just a year ago, many Thais were optimistic that Pheu Thai’s return to power would alleviate the nation’s economic difficulties by boosting consumer purchasing power, reducing household debt, and reversing slowing economic growth. Pheu Thai’s election campaign emphasised economic policies, promising to achieve an…
- Thailand News
Thailand on track to upgrade third-class trains with air-con & seats
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to improve the service and facilities of its third-class trains by spending 780 million baht on new seats and air conditioning. For the first phase, 130 third-class carriages will be equipped with air conditioning by next year. The Deputy Minister of Transport, Surapong Piyachote, told DailyNews that the SRT is now seeking operators…
- Thailand News
Thai police arrest key members of human trafficking ring
Thai police arrested key members of a human trafficking ring that lured Thai citizens into working in call centres under false pretences, promising high salaries but instead subjecting them to forced labour and confinement. Police Major General Saruti Kwangsopa, Chief of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTD), directed a team led by Police Colonel Pattanapong Sripinpraw and Police Lieutenant Colonel Worapol…